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Ossaroo was the man to make such a cord. He could spin it with as much evenness as a Manchester mill. There would be no danger that in a rope of Ossaroo's making the most critical eye could detect either fault or flaw. It was finally determined on that the rope should be spun Ossaroo acting as director, the others becoming his attendants rather than his assistants.

I have said that after eating the peacock our adventurers were in better spirits; but for all that, they could not help feeling some little apprehension as to how their food was to be obtained for the future. Ossaroo's skill had provided their breakfast; but how about their dinner? And after that their supper?

The elephant was advancing upon him, its little switch of a tail oscillating rapidly in the air, and its trunk stretched horizontally towards him, with Ossaroo's own arrow still sticking in it.

'Sides, ee see, here am de lake water dey want drinkee want eat too. Dey sure come down." Ossaroo's prediction was fulfilled, almost as soon as it was uttered. The birds, first one and then the other, jerked in their spread wings; and dropped down upon the shore of the lake as already stated, not over twenty paces from the spot where the three waders were occupied among the leaves of the lilies.

Not without chagrin did Karl and Caspar behold the spectacle of the bearcoot's departure; and for a while they were under the impression that Ossaroo had bungled the business with which he had been entrusted. Ossaroo's explanations, however, were soon after received; and proved satisfactory.

He might as well have attempted to kick the elephant, or stick a pin into its trunk; either of which proceedings would have damaged the animal nearly as much, and perhaps irritated it a little less, than would one of Ossaroo's arrows.

Without saying a word, when the others came up, there was that in Ossaroo's look as he glanced furtively towards the young sahibs, and saw that both were empty-handed that betrayed a certain degree of pride just enough to show that he was enjoying a triumph. To know that he was the only one who had made a coup, it was not necessary for him to look up.

"And you say it has its nest inside that hole?" interrogated Caspar, pointing to the little round aperture, which did not appear to be over three inches in diameter. "Sure of it, young sahib," was Ossaroo's reply.

Karl, as Caspar had done the moment before, saw this with surprise. "Nest?" repeated Caspar, astonished at the shikaree's statement. "A bird's nest? Is that what you mean, Ossy?" "That just it, sahib. Nest of great biggee bird. Feringhees him call horneebill." "Well," rejoined Caspar, not greatly enlightened by Ossaroo's explanation, "that's very curious.

Though Karl and Caspar could scarcely credit him, Ossaroo expressed his belief, not only that the elephant might be hid in the scant jungle they were talking about, but that it actually was there. Unfortunately for them, Ossaroo's argument was too soon to be supported by facts which left no doubt of its accuracy.